“How about Trinity Falls Cuisine? I’ll drive.” Ramona slipped back into her coat.
A burst of surprised laughter escaped Megan. “Just don’t interrogate the server again.” She zipped her winter coat, then held the front door open for Ramona to precede her.
“I won’t.” Ramona’s cheeks flushed again. “What’s Ean doing?”
“He has a business meeting.” Megan locked the front door behind them, then followed Ramona down her walkway to her car. If it wasn’t thirty degrees with snow on the ground, they could have walked to the restaurant.
“With a client?”
Megan shrugged, ill at ease. Had he been evasive that morning, or had that been her imagination? “He said it has to do with his practice.”
“Sounds mysterious.”
Megan thought so as well. She settled into the passenger seat of Ramona’s silver Honda Accord. “I’m sure I’ll get more details at dinner tonight.”
Ramona started her engine. “Ean cares about you. A lot.”
“I know.” Megan buckled her seat belt. “I care about him, too.”
Enough to move in with him? Yes, definitely. She imagined Ean’s reaction when she told him tonight. Her decision made, Megan felt warm despite the cold.
A few minutes later, Megan trailed Ramona to the restaurant’s hostess station. She blinked a bit in the darkened interior before glancing at the nearby booths and tables.
“Good afternoon, ladies. Welcome to Trinity Falls Cuisine. Table for two?” The young hostess looked uncomfortable in her skinny black pants, starched white shirt and narrow black tie.
At Ramona’s nod, she led them to a booth in the same area of the restaurant in which she, Ramona, Quincy and Ean had unexpectedly had dinner together weeks before.
Megan froze.
Near the same booth sat Ean with three older men. Their Park Avenue suits branded them as outsiders.
Ramona had noticed them, too. “Those are Ean’s former law partners.” She left their booth and made a beeline for Ean.
“Ramona, wait.” Megan found herself hissing to thin air. She gritted her teeth before following in her cousin’s wake.
“Hello, Ean.” Ramona turned to face his companions. “Gentlemen, what a surprise to see you here in Trinity Falls. Welcome.”
CHAPTER 34
Ean and the three outsiders stood, stepping away from their table. They wore their wealth, privilege and power like cologne. Megan swallowed hard. What were Ean’s former law firm’s partners doing here?
“Ramona, I thought you’d never eat here again.” Ean’s easy smile faded when he noticed Megan.
Megan ignored the chill seeping into her bones. “I was surprised she picked this restaurant as well.” She sealed her lips to trap any further comments inside her mouth.
Why are you having lunch with your former firm’s partners?
When were you going to tell me about your meeting with them?
Ean’s expression was guarded, as though he’d heard the questions. He gestured toward the tall, imposing silver-haired man beside him. “Let me introduce you. Megan McCloud, this is Hugh Bolden, my former boss.”
Hugh extended his hand. His laser blue eyes seemed to take her measure. “Pleasure.”
Ean continued down the line. “August Craven.”
Megan released Hugh’s hand to accept August’s greeting. The older gentleman’s smile deepened the creases on his cocoa skin. “Nice to meet you.”
Ean moved on to the final introduction. “Jorge Arnez.”